Lack of good early Savage Model 1899s/99s out there

[MrBojangles]

Perhaps I was spoiled, but, within the last 6 months or so I was able to acquire four nice 1899s/99s from a collection dating between 1907 and 1927 at a really good price. All factory original with decent or better condition.

Having accomplished this, I’ve been searching for a few others of certain configurations/calibers that I don’t already have.

Given the great number of these manufactured in the first few decades of the 20th Century, my observations are that these rarely come up for sale, and when they do, they have issues with being refinished or otherwise being altered from original.

So, one cannot seem to even find these at any price and on the rare occasion on surfaces, it’s often wildly overpriced.

Just my observations. YMMV.

Comments?

[Big Al1]

Back when they where new, they were used as tools for hunting and used accordingly! For me, all those dents, dings, scratches, and worn bluing are what give the rifle character and add to it's history. "I sat in somebodies gun cabinet" is a boring story compared to, "I hunted big game all over the world"!!

[MrBojangles]

Back when they were new, they were used as tools for hunting and used accordingly! For me, all those dents, dings, scratches, and worn bluing are what give the rifle character and add to its history. "I sat in somebodies gun cabinet" is a boring story compared to, "I hunted big game all over the world"!!

Dings and scratches are okay, even 60% condition is fine. It’s the reblues and modifications that are problematic.

[Big Al1]

Gotcha!! I especially hate seeing one drilled full of holes!

[MrBojangles]

Gotcha!! I especially hate seeing one drilled full of holes!

Me, as well. Are my observations correct or noted by others?

[MrBojangles]

Observations, anyone else?

A million Savage 1899s/99s is a lot, so there should be lots of early ones out there still…